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Option to receive reminders for overdue tasks

sadpoet says:

I find myself making use of the email reminders for date due items, but when something passes I need another reminder, that has a urgency notice to get done.

I've found that overdue items tend to be forgotten unless I manually look at the list which is sometimes hard as I'm not on my computer all day.

Thanks.
Peter

Posted at 2:02am on May 4, 2007

davidbessler says:

I second this.

Posted 6 years ago

piperd says:

Yep - I need to be chased on overdue reminders more than current so this is a fairly key enhancement.

Posted 6 years ago

davegurnell says:

+1

Posted 6 years ago

tandoor says:

This would be so easy to implement and so obvious a need, I'm surprised it's languished since May 2007!

One more checkbox under daily reminders for Overdue Items (and probably one extra condition in an If statement in the code--ok, I know it's more than that but seriously, it can't be MUCH more) and you're done.

Posted 6 years ago

tandoor says:

With the second day of dealing with my reminders on overdue items (arguably the most important) disappearing, I realize that that makes the reminder "feature" basically useless. I checked out todoist.com but there reminder feature is part of the premium user package, which I would pay for if I knew it actually reminded on overdue items as well ...

Posted 6 years ago

krysta says:

+1

Posted 6 years ago

jc153 says:

+1

Posted 6 years ago

joshpjones99 says:

Wow this really is kinda a Duh. +1 from me. I keep forgetting things because they fall off from today to yesterday. I realize that with true GTD this doesn't happen but in real life outside of books and plans you sometimes forget to postpone things to tomorrow when the day ends then they are forgotten.

Posted 6 years ago

peteralexisthompson says:

+1

Posted 6 years ago

jbguenette says:

I was just about to post something like this too! Count me in!

Posted 6 years ago

charleswlin says:

+1

Posted 6 years ago

charleswlin says:

Does anyone know if this is being worked on? Would really be a helpful feature, but seems like this has been outstanding for a long time, and doesn't seem then is on RTM's high priority list. But as people mentioned here, seems like a logical and straightforward thing to do.

Posted 6 years ago

we.kanes says:

Interesting. I wouldn't push for this, but then again I also wouldn't use this. I suppose the natural conclusion to this request is that RTM isn't your main app for managing tasks...email is...RTM just delivers your tasks to where you actually want to see them. Doesn't the daily agenda include overdue tasks? If you aren't going to use RTM as your main task management app, perhaps you should flag/start/move your emails and un-flag/un-star/delete them when the task is done. Then you have a constant nag right in your inbox and you don't have to receive additional emails.

If I were an RTM developer, I'd look at this request and say two things:
1. This isn't a deficiency (I don't know of a service that does this) and
2. This doesn't really do anything to improve the product.

...or just send yourself a task every day to check RTM for overdue emails. :-)

Posted 6 years ago

ranbarton says:

I haven't spoken up about this previously, but I thought it worth adding that it's not a very complex or outlandish request to hope that a daily, automated email would contain not only newly due items, but also a summary of open, overdue ones as well.

Being able to refer to one email, and not have to scour multiple emails, is a clear benefit.

Posted 6 years ago

we.kanes says:

I was thinking of something else with my "daily agenda" remark previously. I don't use the emails/reminder feature of RTM, my apologies. I think ranbarton is on to something. It's Google Calendar that has a "daily agenda". RTM could adopt this and include overdue items in that email.

Posted 6 years ago

ranbarton says:

I adore Gcal's daily agenda. I subscribe to the iCal of one of my RTM Smartlists, so I see my day's tasks integrated right into my calendar - very handy. If we could inject my overdue's into that email, then we'd really be on to something.

Posted 6 years ago

charleswlin says:

Hi, thanks for the responses. In a nutshell, this to me is more about giving the user more options. While email notification is not necessarily used heavily by everyone, some (like myself) would depend on it this way - 2 sections in the email to distinguish due today vs overdue (maybe even with due date). First, hopefully RTM doesn't mind enabling his option. Second, as said before, if it takes less less than a few days to implement, RTM will implement this. But even with such a small feature add, there needs to be enough demand to make it worth their time, so please - anyone whowould like his as well, enter your thoughts here. Thanks.

Posted 6 years ago

dleder says:

+1

Posted 6 years ago

ryanth says:

+1 ... definitely in favor of more email options in general.

Posted 6 years ago

rlo46 says:

Overdue items need to be on the reminder list.

Also the ability to send NOW for the remender list.

Also the ability to email a filtered list, on a schedule and NOW.

Posted 6 years ago

kent0n says:

Please, please put this is an option for the reminders - I ponied up the cash assuming that this would be a feature that you can switch on - without it. users not near a computer have to make some pretty special efforts to try and find out what they have missed. I know that this may not appeal to GTD purists but it certainly can't hurt as an option - do RTM guys reply on this firum?

Posted 5 years ago

kent0n says:

that would be *forum*

Posted 5 years ago

mehardin says:

@kent0n
"users not near a computer have to make some pretty special efforts to try and find out what they have missed."

It takes a few minutes for ONE TIME setup, but after that I don't consider a quick direct message on twitter "pretty special effort."

if you have a saved overdue list "dueBefore:today" or a saved today list that includes overdue items i.e. "dueBefore:tomorrow" AND you follow RTM on Twitter, which is a one time setup, it's relatively simple to find out what you missed with a direct twitter message.

d rtm !getlist overdue OR
d rtm !getlist today

When rtm direct tweets me back, it comes to my phone AND my email.

Posted 5 years ago

kent0n says:

@mehardin thanks for that - I will set it up, I still don't see why it can't be added though as ultimately that is asking for a reminder and the whole point is that I want to be reminded automatically ;-)

Posted 5 years ago

kent0n says:

...and in this respect I totally agree with @ranbarton's point above "I haven't spoken up about this previously, but I thought it worth adding that it's not a very complex or outlandish request to hope that a daily, automated email would contain not only newly due items, but also a summary of open, overdue ones as well.

Being able to refer to one email, and not have to scour multiple emails, is a clear benefit."

Posted 5 years ago

ranbarton says:

I also think one could build on the weekly planner view and create a very good HTML email of overdue, current, and pending tasks.

For example, if one's reminder list were tied to a smartlist, each user could craft just the right batch of tasks they wished to have emailed to them, and at what intervals. I'd love to have an HTML email I could keep open all day, with links that would let me complete, postpone, or edit each task just a click away.

Posted 5 years ago

nbarrowman says:

+1

Posted 5 years ago

tyfuji says:

Why has this not been implemented yet? Seems very simple...

I just want the daily email (that I get anyway) to list my overdue tasks as well. That's all.

Posted 5 years ago

ceejaysmith says:

Yep, +1 for me too. And while we're on it, I'd really like to be able to select custom reminders per task. Some tasks I want reminders of on the day, others 1 hour or so before (and some with Twitter, and some with email). It's seems like this should be a pretty basic feature, as most calendar software does it (eg. iCal).

Could be a good PRO only feature?

Posted 5 years ago

hunkin says:

+1

Posted 5 years ago

ryan.cross says:

+1 from me. I also thought it worth noting a few other threads asking for the same thing in an attempt to consolidate.

Especially since this would seem like a really easy fix / addition. Probably a small tweak to some SQL or possibly a template.

+1 the only 'place' on my computer that I'm always paying attention to is my email - everything that's important ends up there - please let us know if this is coming

Posted 5 years ago

quilnmous says:

+1 I agree with @amphoto -- I check in with RTM b/c it is like my cool friend/personal assistant that helps me stay on top of things. But when I get e-mail, it's like Big Brother/parental unit telling me I have a serious issue to deal with.

I'm also addressing an earlier discussion about being an RTM user versus an external user -- hey, it's OK to be both at the same time, as long as both make you productive. Getting RTM overdue tasks to work with e-mail reminders is like when the whole is better than the sum of its parts. Can't we all just get along? :-)

Posted 5 years ago

nick.gibbons says:

+1

Posted 5 years ago

woelfle says:

+1

Posted 5 years ago

martin.pope says:

I support this 2000%. An option on the reminders setiings is the correct solution here.

I want my daily email to get longer and longer until I have completed all the tasks.

Posted 5 years ago

dougmason says:

Sweet Jesus, please add this feature.

I'm willing to wait for my Outlook sync or a fancy Blackberry application, but this request seems like a simple one that would make a whole lot of people happy!

It doesn't seem like a significant amount of coding and testing, compared to these other RTM projects and the ROI would be excellent.

Posted 5 years ago

vitalyb says:

+1 plz

Posted 5 years ago

kevincberry says:

+1

Posted 5 years ago

tytyzimmy says:

+1. Any plans for this???

Posted 5 years ago

rosswil says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

olivetre says:

this is the same for the other one...

so plus 1!

:)

Posted 4 years ago

hebbet says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

alange says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

guice says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

mjerr says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

cynthia10 says:

+1; I'm going to send RTM a friendly mail about this thread...

Posted 4 years ago

amytrc says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

ivanatpr says:

It would be good to get a daily digest email with any overdue tasks

Posted 4 years ago

louisreid says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

margaret.moser says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

martin.fogarty says:

This is a huge omission on this feature and it should be rectified - if anything, it is more important to be reminded of overdue tasks than due tasks.

Posted 4 years ago

rachelober says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

hova4ever says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

dswegart says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

mbaroukh says:

+1 but if nobody take care of customers needs, this post is not really useful ...

Posted 4 years ago

cjk42 says:

Ok, maybe this is over-simplifying, but why not create a smartlist for overdue items using the "dueBefore:today" parameter. Then click on the "Atom" link for that list and save that link it to your favorites or a shortcut on your desktop? Check it daily to see a list of things you haven't done yet. Works for me.

Posted 4 years ago

hofjes says:

+1 Including a specification of the tasks per project in the email!

Posted 4 years ago

roof01 says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

jlaase says:

I would love to be able to be notified about overdue tasks!

Posted 4 years ago

adamup says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

jelleys says:

Please add

Posted 4 years ago

newageelectric says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

mbaroukh says:

+1

Posted 4 years ago

sm2n says:

I would go Pro for this feature alone.

Posted 4 years ago

secretwings says:

+1

Posted 3 years ago

ruphskunk says:

+1

Posted 3 years ago

mbrocious says:

+1

Posted 3 years ago

calbert says:

+1

Posted 3 years ago

aarondick says:

+1

Posted 3 years ago

roof01 says:

+100000

Posted 3 years ago

daryltask says:

+1

Posted 3 years ago

sergekh says:

This one is really a must have.

Posted 3 years ago

heatheradeney says:

I signed up for RTM, hoping that this would be a feature, but no.

What RTM needs is not just regular reminders for past-due items, but increasingly insistent reminders and threats. I'm actually serious: If I have procrastinated on paying the visa bill for two weeks, I want not only a regular morning reminder email, but a reminder sent to my husband to give me heck, and a threat to email my mother if I leave it another week.Procrastinators need all the help they can get!!

I can put reminders with multiple email notifications on my Google calendar, but once the date passes, everything goes quiet. This is the LAST thing I want to happen.

Please help me and all the other procrastinators, RTM!

Posted 3 years ago

lizzeh says:

Agree this is a must. It decreases the usefulness of the reminders if it does not remind you of past due items. An option for a daily reminder with upcoming (week) tasks and those overdue would be helpful.

Posted 3 years ago

ianmcp says:

it would be simple to break down the daily reminder email. One section for tasks due today, a following section for tasks overdue etc

Posted 3 years ago

josh.deckard says:

Any update on the ability to get a daily email summary of all tasks (preferably by list)?Thank you

Posted 3 years ago

spency says:

Please add this. +1

Posted 3 years ago

kaktus74 says:

+1Lack of this feature forces me to write own script which will send me overdue tasks via email...

Posted 3 years ago

democrito says:

It's time!+1

Posted 3 years ago

jeradzan says:

+1! Desperately needed!

Posted 3 years ago

lillgu says:

+1 about time...

Posted 3 years ago

robbertkl says:

+1

Automatically postponing overdue items at the end of the day would also do the trick for me, although then you can't see the original due date anymore, i.e. it won't be overdue anymore.

Posted 3 years ago

jane.macgregor says:

This seems like a major oversight and also hopefully something relatively easy to implement? I find email reminders fairly useless without it.

Posted 3 years ago

john.fournier says:

I would like this too + 1

Posted 2 years ago

rjpianist says:

Wanted to post here that I've come up with a workaround after spending days looking at other task managers none of which could lure me away from RTM. So, I am using the RTM app push notifications to let me know when I have tasks due "today", but since that doesn't include my overdue tasks, I have to have a separate reminder for those.

Here is what I came up with:

1. Set up Twitter so that you can DM with @rtm2. Make a smart list called "Overdue" from a saved search for dueBefore:Today3. Open an account at ifttt.com4. Enable the Date/Time and Twitter channels there5. Create a recipe using the Date/Time trigger (I set it for 3am) that tweets: d @rtm !gl Overdue6. Make sure Twitter is set up to email you your DM's7. (optional) Set up an email filter to delete emails that contain "Overdue: no tasks" so that you only get an email notification when RTM finds overdue tasks.

PHEW! This works. Now I wake up to an email that tells me about any overdue tasks.

Note, you can also have Twitter text you your DM's, but then you can't filter out when the message finds no overdue tasks. You will get a daily text whether you have overdue tasks or not.

I hope this helps someone out there who needs a nudge to complete overdue tasks.

Posted 2 years ago

rjpianist says:

Here's a link to the IFTTT recipe: http://ifttt.com/recipes/48153

Posted 2 years ago

alexreichl says:

So obvious..yet no response from Milk. This is essential if you are trying to manage somebody else through tasks

Posted 2 years ago

drcarolynmiller says:

+1

Posted 2 years ago

radi69 says:

+1

Posted 2 years ago

rbendett says:

+1

Posted 2 years ago

betsy.ptak says:

Yes please.

Posted 2 years ago

wheretheskygrows says:

@rjpianist: The IFTTT Twitter recipe works great!

I actually like this better because it gives me a list of things in an email for any list I choose. So I can combine two smart lists into one and have that sent to my husband every day. He always has a running list of calls or items to check that are not necessarily are overdue, but things to remember. He's so scattered so he won't go check the RTM website, but having it in one email that he checks every day is easy for him.

Posted 2 years ago

ifieatturkey says:

+1 Please just allow email reminders for overdue tasks!

Posted 2 years ago

brian.cahn says:

+1

Posted 2 years ago

batmanaod says:

+1. Without this feature, email reminders are almost useless. I, like Douglas Adams, love the whooshing noises that deadlines make as they go by, so I'd use this feature all the time.

Posted 2 years ago

batmanaod says:

(Not to mention that while the Twitter workaround is clever, it seems shocking to me that I'd need to rely on Twitter, of all things, to implement a missing feature for a time-management system. It's just...so wrong!)

Posted 2 years ago

dispensa says:

+∞

Posted 2 years ago

jphw says:

Totally agree. +1

Posted 2 years ago

kaktus74 says:

+1

Posted 2 years ago

zamomin says:

@rjpianist Thanks for sharing your recipe!

Nevertheless, reminders for overdue mails should be part of a time management system. How many people complete all due tasks on the due day every day? If I am too busy to buy milk today, I still need it tomorrow ...

Posted 2 years ago

ashwin says:

If user is overdue on a task, he needs to be reminded about this. This is just as important or more important that reminder about his current tasks.

For email reminders that are received once a day, this feature is really easy to implement and is a must. Just place list of overdue reminders on top of today's tasks.

Posted 2 years ago

bekozi says:

I agree this is much needed. It is easy to rely on reminder emails and forget to look at the interface.

Posted 2 years ago

velvelmink says:

would be very helpfull

Posted 2 years ago

cwb3106 says:

I like this idea. It would also be useful to have a periodic email listing the contents of a specified smartlist.. Periodicity should have all the repeat options of tasks; e.g., every day, every week, every weekday.